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MTN Foundation Donations Hit N10Bn, Rivers State Benefits
MTN Foundation has invested over 10 billion naira in social projects in the key areas of education, health and economic empowerment in 341 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.
And in line with Foundation’s continued commitment to support State Governments’ efforts at reducing the security challenges in the country, it donated security vehicles to the Rivers State Government under the third phase of its Security Support Project (SSP).
Receiving the vehicles, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who was represented by Engr. Tele Ikuru, his deputy, commended the MTN Foundation, which is the Corporate Social Investment arm of MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, for keying into his administration’s vision of providing adequate security to engender socio-economic growth in the state.
He said the initiative would help complement efforts made by the government in securing the lives and properties of the state’s inhabitants.
“The business of security is everyone’s business. Government can’t handle the security challenge alone which is why we are particularly gladdened by this gesture which is the first of its kind since this administration embarked on its transformation agenda. We are calling on other service providers to emulate the gesture of MTN and support government’s effort in providing adequate security for residents of the state as well as the entire country,” he said.
Speaking on the government’s plans, Engr. Tele Ikuru said that “as a government, we are not resting on our oars having provided world class security infrastructure within the state. The constitution states that the protection of lives and property is the cardinal responsibility of every government, hence we shall not allow any form of criminality to take root again in the state”.
Speaking at the donation, Dennis Okoro, director, MTN Foundation, said the gesture was in furtherance of the Foundation’s commitment to improving the quality of life in Nigerian communities.
“It is common knowledge that security of life and property is critical to the growth and development of any state and is therefore an area that should not be left for the government alone. We are passionate about improving the quality of life in Nigeria and contributing to socio-economic growth,” he said.
“We constantly seek out opportunities to contribute to the development of the communities wherein we operate. The aim of the Foundation’s Security Support Project (SSP) is to contribute to government’s effort to improve security operations around the country,” Okoro added.
Rivers State has been a beneficiary of several other MTN Foundation initiatives, such as, the MTNF Rural Telephone Project, the MTNF Disability Support Project, MTNF Learning Facility Support Project, MTNF Scholarship Scheme for students, Widows Empowerment Scheme and now MTNF Security Support Project.
The third phase will see Rivers, Abia, Benue, Cross River, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, Osun, Sokoto and Zamafra states benefit from the Foundation’s provision of fully kitted security vehicles to enhance security operations in these states.
Through the two previous phases of the MTNF-SSP, the Foundation has presented 115 fully equipped security patrol vehicles with communication gadgets to 18 state governments and the FCT. Ondo, Lagos, Enugu, Kogi and Gombe States, Kaduna, Kogi, Bayelsa benefitted from the second phase of the project.
Phase one of the project witnessed the donation of fully kitted security vehicles to Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Jigawa, Imo, Katsina, Kano, Plateau and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has awarded a total of N13 million in grants to three standout tech startups at the 2025 Techpreneur Summit held in Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and inclusive growth among Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The winners include: BuyScrap, a digital marketplace for recyclable materials – N6 million; Qiqi Farms, which connects local farmers to hospitality and export markets – N4 million; Eco-Cyclers, a youth-led recycling initiative based in Enugu – N3 million
Alongside the grant awards, DBN also launched a new digital data asset, a first-of-its-kind platform aimed at enabling data-driven decisions within the MSME ecosystem.
The platform offers deep insights into business trends, sector-specific challenges, and growth opportunities—supporting smarter policymaking and targeted investments.
In his keynote address in Lagos, Tony Okpanachi, managing director/ CEO, DBN, described the event’s theme, “CTRL + SHIFT: Tech Empowered Movement for Naija,” as a strategic call to reimagine enterprise development in Nigeria.
“This isn’t just a keyboard shortcut,” he said. “It’s a mindset reset—powered by technology—to build a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient business landscape. From financing to innovation, DBN remains committed to enabling MSMEs to thrive.”
Okpanachi emphasized that the Summit aligns with DBN’s AMPLIFI Strategy, which integrates digital transformation, sustainability, and scalability into its core programs.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Digital Shift Workshops and the Eco-Innovation Challenge as key steps toward embedding innovation in Nigeria’s MSME sector.
Encouraging young innovators, he added: “The future belongs to those bold enough to imagine and build it. DBN is proud to support the ideas that will shape tomorrow.”
A major highlight was the unveiling of the DBN Data Asset—a digital platform designed to provide real-time, evidence-based insights into Nigeria’s MSME landscape.
The platform combines DBN’s proprietary data with external sources like the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to offer a comprehensive view of MSME performance by region and sector.
Jeremy Dan Okayi, DBN’s Head of Strategy, Policy & Innovation, described the platform as: “A reservoir of insight, potential, and direction—built on two years of collaboration and shared vision. This tool will support informed decision-making across the public and private sectors.”
News
FCCPC Shuts France, Belgium, and Italy Visa Centres in Abuja Over Alleged Consumer Rights Violations
In a bold enforcement action, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), supported by the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has sealed off the visa application centres of France, Belgium, and Italy in Abuja over alleged consumer protection breaches and obstruction of regulatory investigations.
The affected centres—located at Mukhtar El-Yakub House in the Central Business District and operated by TLS Contact, a Teleperformance Company—were shut down following reports that they refused to accept formal correspondence from the FCCPC regarding a consumer complaint. The Commission cited further infractions, including obstruction of investigation and alleged assault of its officers during lawful duties.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigations at the FCCPC, explained: “This is an enforcement operation against TLS. On March 25, 2025, we served them a letter to address a consumer complaint, which they refused to accept. Instead, TLS officers assaulted our team, and in a subsequent visit on June 17, they also allegedly assaulted uniformed police officers.”
Citing Section 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), Mrs. Adeyinka emphasized that failure to comply with Commission directives constitutes a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment, fines of up to ₦20 million, or both.
TLS has been ordered to appear before the Commission on June 20, 2025, to provide testimony, submit evidence, and make formal depositions. The company may be held liable for any financial losses suffered by applicants due to the disruption of visa services.
Despite multiple requests for comment, management at TLS Contact declined to respond as of press time.
Adedapo Segun, chief financial officer (CFO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has explained why there is a missing sum of N210 trillion in the company’s audited financial statement spanning from 2017 to 2023.
According to Segun, the missing funds are cash calls requested by joint venture (JV) partners and settlement to the JVs.
He spokeat a session of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Aliyu Wadada.
Segun was responding to an alarm raised by the committee over missing N210 trillion in NNPCL’s audited financial statement.
Recall that Wadada issued a one-week ultimatum to NNPCL to account for the missing N210 trillion.
Reacting, Segun said, “The N103 trillion and N107 trillion are made up of joint venture cash calls that have been requested by the JV operators and JV cash call payments made by NNPCL, which are yet to be reconciled because governance procedures were not done at that time.
“That is why you see the description reflecting those two items would be washed out because they are two sides of the same transaction, which is the cash calls by JV partners and the settlement by NNPCL.”
However, Habu Sadeik, a financial analyst, in a post on X on Thursday, said Segun’s response was unsatisfactory.
Saidik faulted NNPCL’s response about the fund discrepancies, noting that something is not right with the audited financial statement.
“Forget about the senators’ lack of knowledge.
“The CFO’s response is not satisfactory. Are you saying that cash calls worth hundreds of trillions are just appearing on your FS only in 2024 without 31 disclosure?
“If it’s a cash call, why hasn’t the disclosure said so?
“Which cash call is over 100 trillion?
“Something is definitely not right, and I hope they retrospectively correct that FS.
“Someone somewhere did a chef’s work,” he wrote on X.
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